DHAKA: Bangladesh experienced a significant inflow of remittances totaling over US$26.889 billion in 2024, alongside the overseas employment of nearly 10.11 lakh workers, according to official sources. This economic boost has been attributed to Bangladesh's robust presence in international forums such as the Colombo Process, which focuses on managing overseas employment and contractual labor for Asian countries of origin.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the overseas employment sector faced challenges in traditional markets like Malaysia. However, the identification of new destinations and a growing demand for Bangladeshi workers in various countries have mitigated these setbacks. A ministry source revealed that 10,10,931 Bangladeshi nationals secured jobs abroad last year, compared to over 13,05,453 in 2023. The country received remittances amounting to US$26,889.54 million in 2024 from expatriates.
Mohammad Jahirul Alam Majumder, Deputy Director of the Bangladesh Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), stated that of the total overseas job seekers, 9,59,533 were male and 60,582 were female. Efforts are ongoing to increase the number of migrant workers and ensure their rights and protection. The government has identified new destinations such as Russia, Brunei Darussalam, and Eastern Europe for skilled and semi-skilled workers, with over 750,000 workers being sent abroad on average each month.
Bangladesh Bank's latest statistics reveal that remittances from expatriate Bangladeshis have resulted in robust growth, with the country's gross foreign exchange reserves surpassing US$26 billion. Experts suggest that expatriates have been sending their savings back home, contributing to this growth.
The government has invested in developing skilled manpower, particularly in sectors like healthcare, where there is increasing demand globally. Training centers have been established across districts to provide job seekers with skills in various fields, including engineering, mechanics, and language courses.
The government promotes documented overseas employment to bolster foreign currency earnings and has declared the overseas employment sector a 'thrust sector,' emphasizing the expansion of job markets for Bangladeshi workers abroad.